Shelf bracket



y 1951 J. c. L. SKAR 2,551,062

I SHELF BRACKET Filed March 15, 1950 /0 INVENTOR.

Patented May 1, 1951 SHELF BRACKET John G. L. Skar, Jamestown, N. Y., assignor to Art Metal Construction Company, Jamestown, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application March 15, 1950, Serial No. 149,749

2 Claims. (Cl. 211-148) This invention relates to bracket shelves made of sheet metal such as are employed in library bookstacks or the like and of the type in which the shelf units are mounted on upright metal col unins by vertical end brackets detachably secured to each end of each shelf unit and which serve as the end walls for each shelf and are detachably connected to the upright columns.

'One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide a simple and. inexpensive interlock for detachably connecting each shelf unit to its companion pair of end brackets and which permits these brackets tobe removed from the shelf unit for economizing space in storage Or shipping.

Another object is to provide such a bracket and shelf interlock which is strong and durable in construction and will securely hold the end brackets in united relation with its shelf unit until deliberately detached by a predetermined manipulation of the end brackets relative to the shelf unit. v v

Another object is to provide such a'bracket and shelf interlock in which the end brackets. can" be readily applied to and readily detached from the 'shelf unit when it is desired to do so.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description and drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view, on a reduced scale, of a metal library bookstack or shelving structure having bracket shelves embodying the present invention. I

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of a bracket shelf embodying the present invention and showing" thesupportin column in section, this view being'on an enlarged scale. a p

Fig13 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of'on'e end of a shelfunit and bracket embodying the present invention.

Figs. i4, 5, and 6 are fragmentary and elevational v'iews similar to Fig. 2 and showin the manneryin which the end'bracket is manipulated with. reference to the shelf unit to detachably' interlock the bracket with the shelf unit.

' Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken on line '|1, Fig. 2. 1

.Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section taken on line 8- -8, Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary'vertical section'taken online 99, Fig. 3. I

-The library bookstacks or like shelving to which the present invention is applied is shown as composed of a plurality of metal shelf units, indicatedgenerally at l0. each having a pair of brackets I l jdetachably interlocked withrits opposite ends, and these brackets being supported by upright columns l2, which are shown as being of square tubular form and each provided along its front side with two vertical series of vertical slots 13.

Each of the shelf units I0 is made of sheet metal and is shown as comprising a rectangular bottom Wall or shelf l4 and a rectangular integral rear wall I5 rising from the rear edge of the bottom wall [4. The bottom wall [4 is shown as reinforced on its front edge by a bead l6 which can be conveniently formed by providing a depending reversely formed or C-shaped flange along the front longitudinal edge of the bottom wall M as best shown inFig.'9. At its opposite ends the bottom wall I4 of each shelf unit is provided with a depending flange [8. Each of these flanges I8 is provided at each end with a horizontally elongated teat is which is struck from the metal of the flange so as to protrude toward the center of the shelf.

Each end bracket H is made of sheet metal and of generally rectangular form with its upper outer corner preferably rounded, as indicated at 20, and this'rounded part 20 and the front and upper edges of the upper end bracket preferably being formed to provide a rounded outwardly projecting bead or shallow flange 2|. Each bracket is also provided along the upper part of its rear edge with a pair of rearwardly projecting downwardly directed hooks 22 and which are adapted to enter a correspondin pair of the vertical slots I3 of the supporting column I2 and hold the bracket against downward and forward displacement.

which is adapted to enter a lower slot l3 of the series supporting the hooks 22 and hold the lower part of the end bracket against sidewise displacement.

Each bracket is also provided along its lower edge with an upwardly extending reversely formed supporting flange 24 which extends along the inner face of the end bracket and is spaced therefrom so as to form a relatively deep and narrow channel 25 for receiving the correspond ing downwardly extending flange I8 at the end These slots 26 are arranged to register with the teats !9 in the depending end flanges I 8 of the shelf.

V The invention is essentially directed teen in- Each bracket II is also provided along the lower part of its rear edge with a rearwardly projecting square lug or extension 23- terlocking connection between each of the end brackets II and its shelf unit II] whereby these parts are detachably joined together but which permits the end brackets II to be removed from the shelf unit for economizing in shipping and storage space. Each end bracket II is secured to the corresponding end of its companion shelf unit ID by a pair of such interlocking connections and which are indicated generally at 28.

Each interlock 28 comprises a generally rectangular car 29 which is formed integrally with the back wall I5 of the shelf unit and projects forwardly from the corresponding vertical end edge thereof in position to embrace or lie against the outer face of the corresponding end bracket I4. Each of these generally rectangular ears 29 provided with a vertically elongated rectangular opening 30 which forms the vertical leg or part of an L-shaped channel, as hereinafter described. Each car 29 is therefore in the form of a rectangular frame having upper and lower portions 3I, 32 which connect it to the back wall I5 of the shelf unit and a vertical crosspiece 33 which is disposed forwardly from the back wall I5. The lower part of each vertical crosspiece 33 is offset outwardly to form a bridge or arch 34 which forms the horizontal leg or part of an L-shaped channel which is adapted to receive andguide the passage of a small teat 35 provided on each of the end brackets II and protruding outwardly therefrom. This teat 35 is preferably half moon-shaped in form with its straight side forming a vertically elongated shoulder facing forwardly. Each of these teats 35 is also located to register with the arch or bridge 34 of the crosspiece 33 when the depending flange I8 of the shelf unit is located immediately above the channel of the end bracket I I which receives this depending flange.

For shipping or storage the end brackets II are detached from the shelf units It so that these shelves can be nested for economy in space. When it is desired to assemble the bookstack an and bracket II is interlocked with each end of each of the shelf units II]. For this purpose each end bracket II is placed against the end of the shelf unit It in the position illustrated in Fig. 4. In this position the depending flange IB at the end of the bottom wall I4 of the shelf unit is arranged against the inner face of the end bracket II and in a position immediately above the channel 25 which receives this depending flange in the interlocked condition of the unit. In this initial position of the parts illustrated in Fig. 4 the rear vertical edge of the end bracket I I is also spaced forwardly from the back wall I5 of the shelf unit. In this initial position of the parts the moon-shaped teat 35 of the end bracket is also horizontally in alinement with the arch or bridge 34 of the vertical crosspiece 33 of the generally rectangular ear 3!.

The end bracket II is now moved horizontally rearwardly relative to the shelf unit III. This causes the moon-shaped teat 35 to pass through the arch 34 of the crosspiece 33 of the ear 28 and into the rectangular opening in this car. In this position of the parts the rear vertical edge of the end bracket II is in alinement with the front face of the rear wall I5 of the shelf unit. To complete the interlock, the end bracket II is now moved vertically upward relative to the shelf unit II]. This causes the straight or vertically elongated, forwardly facing shoulder of the moon-shaped teat to travel upwardly in the channel provided by the rectangular opening 30 along the rear edge of the vertical crosspiece 33 of the generally rectangular ear '28. This also causes the depending flange at the corresponding end of the bottom wall I4 of the shelf unit to enter the channel 25 formed by the reversely bent upwardly projecting supporting flange 24 at the bottom of the end bracket I I. When the test 35 reaches the upper end of the rectangular opening 30, the teats I9 of the corresponding depending flange I8 enter the slots 26 of the upwardly projecting reversely formed supporting flanges 2'4 of the end bracket II.

Accordingly the shelf unit I0 is held against upward displacement relative to the end bracket II by the teats I9, At the same time the shelf unit II! is held against downward displacement relative to the end brackets II by the seating of the depending end flanges I8 thereof in the upwardly opening channels 25 provided by the supporting flanges 24 of these end brackets. The shelf unit I I] is also held against forward displacement relative to the end brackets I I by the ears 28 which extend around the rear vertical edges of these end brackets. The shelf unit III is also heldagainst rearward displacement relative to the end brackets II, or, conversely, the end brackets II against forward displacement relative to the shelf unit I0, by the vertically elongated, forwardly facing shoulders of the half-moon shaped teats 3.5 engaging the rear edges of the crosspieces 33 of the generally rectangular, forwardly projecting cars 28 of the back wall I5 of the shelf unit. Accordingly, it will be seen that before the shelf unit It and its end brackets II are hung upon the vertical posts I 2, each end bracket II is securely and positively united to this shelf unit.

It will also be seen that the shelf unit II) can 1 be readily disassembled from its end brackets II by a reverse of the procedure that is dc scribed. Thus, to place each shelf unit in condition for storage or shipping, the shelf unit I0,

. together with its two end brackets II, are first removed from the vertical posts I2 by swinging the lower part thereof outwardly suflicient to disengage the square lugs 23 thereof from the corresponding slots I3 of the post I2. The shelf unit I0, together with its end brackets II, attached thereto, can thereupon be readily lifted so as to free the hooks 22 from the slots I3 and permit the complete removal of the shelf unit I!) together with its end brackets.

To remove each end bracket I I from the shelf unit II], this end bracket is then pushed downwardly to the position shown in Fig. 5, in which its half-moon shaped teat 35 is brought to the bottom of the rectangular opening 30 in the ear 28 and in horizontal alinement with the arch .34 of the vertical crosspiece 33 of this car. In this position the teats of the corresponding depending flange end I8 having been withdrawn from the slots 26 of the upwardly extending reversely formed supporting flange 24 of the end bracket I! and this depending end flange '18 has been removed from the channel 25 formed by this reversely formed supporting flange 24 of the end bracket. Accordingly upon now displacing the end bracket II horizontally forwardly, its halfmoon shaped teat 35 is drawn forwardly through the arch 34 of the ear 29 so as to completely free the end bracket II from the shelf unit. With the end bracket II so removed from the shelf unit It, the shelves can be conveniently nested together for economy in storage and shipping and the end brackets I! can similarly be stored in face-to-face relation.

It will be seen that the arch 34 and opening 30 of each car 29 essentially form an L-shaped channel opposing the outer face of the adjacent end bracket II and having a lower horizontal part formed by the arch 34 leading rearwardly from the forward edge of the ear to a vertical part of the L-shaped channel formed by the opening 30. This L-shaped channel guides the teat 35 to follow a corresponding path to insure an interlock which can only be operated by a predetermined manipulation of the end brackets H relative to the shelf units ID as above described.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention provides shelf and end bracket units for libary bookstacks or the like in which each end bracket is 'detachably secured to the shelf unit in suchinanner that it can readily be removed from the shelf unit for storage or'transit and in which each bracket is detachably secured to the shelf unit by a simple interlocking connection which adds no substantial expense to the cost of the shelving and which is strong and at the same time readily released. Further, the

.nel having a lower horizontal portion leading to a vertical portion extending upwardly therefrom y to guide said end bracket member to move horiparts of the detachable interlocking connection between each shelf unit and its end brackets can be formed and assembled without the use of special tools or any complicated manipulative procedure.

I claim:

1. In a shelf unit for library bookstacks and the, like having a generally rectangular sheet metal shelf, a back wall extending vertically from the rear edge of said shelf, and a perpendicular end bracket member disposed against one end of said back wall, the combination therewith of a detachable interlock between said end bracket member and said back wall, comprising an ear member projecting forwardly from said one end of said back wall and arranged alongside the outer face of said end bracket member, and an L-shaped channel and teat connection between said end bracket member and ear member and comprising a teat on one of said members and protruding into an L-shaped channel provided in the other of said members, said L-shaped chanzontally rearwardly and thence vertically upwardly relative to said shelf in interlocking said end bracket member in position.

2. In a shelf unit for library bookstacks and the like having a generally rectangular sheet metal shelf, a back wall extending vertically from the rear edge of said shelf, and a perpendicular end bracket disposed against one end of said back wall, the combination therewith of a detachable interlock between said end bracket and said back Wall, comprising an ear projecting forwardly from said one end of said back wall and arranged alongside the outer face of said end bracket, said car being provided with a vertically elongated :ODBIllIlg forming a vertical crosspiece along the forward side of said ear and said vertical crosssaid arched portion and leading rearwardly to a vertical portion extending upwardly therefrom and provided by said opening, and a teat protruding outwardly from the outer face of said end bracket into said channel thereby to guide said end bracket to move horizontally rearwardly and thence vertically upwardly relative to said shelf in interlocking said end bracket in position.

JOHN G. L. SKAR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,195,295 Turner Aug. 22, 1916 1,806,642 Ohnstrand May 26,- 1931 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 67,524 Norway Feb. 22, 1927 

